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Information Technology Services

Pre-Semester Technology Checklist

COUNTDOWN TO FALL 2017

Information Technology Services (ITS) would like to help MSU Denver faculty prepare for the new semester by providing a useful pre-semester technology checklist. If you are a faculty member, you are encouraged to use the following checklist to ensure that all of your technology needs are met well before the first day of classes on Monday, August 21.

Verify that your MSU Denver NetID, password, and email account are all working.

Log into your email account using your MSU Denver NetID (username) and NetID password to check for any login issues. The Faculty and Staff Hub is a quick way to access your email online. Go to www.msudenver.edu/facstaff/ and click the "Email (Office 365)" link under the "Email & Collaboration" heading. If you have any login issues, please contact the ITS Helpdesk at 303-352-7548 or support.msudenver.edu.

Please note, if you are receiving a copy from a master template, inquire with your department administrator or the master designer about the availability of your section.

If you are teaching two sections of the same course, complete all your changes in one section before copying it to another.

If you are copying a course from previous semester, check the following items before the first day of class:

Update due dates and availability dates for all assessments and assignments. Please note that if this is not done before the first day of classes, students will receive erroneous overdue notifications.

Delete all student discussion threads.

Update and delete all announcements.

Update syllabus and schedule page.

Delete unused columns from Grade Center.

Remove all adaptive release rule or test exceptions criteria that no longer apply.

Check to make sure that the weblinks you included for external websites or videos are working properly.

The ITS Educational Technology Center offers walk-in Blackboard Faculty support during designated times from Monday-Thursday. Please see the calendar at msudenver.edu/etc/services/lab/schedule to choose a time that is most convenient for you.

Verify that you and your classrooms are equipped with the software and equipment that you will need for the upcoming semester.

Check to make sure that the classrooms you will be teaching in have all the necessary hardware and software that you will need for your classes. To request or check out equipment, contact the ITS Helpdesk at 303-352-7548 or submit a request at support.msudenver.edu.

Update your laptop by connecting it to the MSU Denver "wired" network or bring it to the ITS Helpdesk.

Make sure that your laptop has been updated by connecting it to the MSU Denver "wired" network. After you've connected to the network, restart your computer to ensure that all of the necessary updates have been applied. If you would prefer to have ITS update your laptop, bring it to either of the ITS Helpdesk locations - AD 475 (in the Administration Building) or WC 243 (in the West Classroom).

Verify that your syllabi include the ITS Helpdesk contact information for technology support.

Make sure that the syllabus you provide to your students has up-to-date information about how to get help from the ITS Helpdesk. Let them know that they can call the ITS Helpdesk at 303-352-7548 or fill out a service request online at support.msudenver.edu or visit the Helpdesk walk-in locations at AD 475 (in the Administration Building) or WC 243 (in the West Classroom).